Name: Emile Soleil
Age: 2 years old
Last seen: July 8, 2023
Location: Le Vernet, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France
Status: Found Deceased on March 30, 2024
Case Information
2-year-old Emile Soleil was last seen in Le Vernet, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in southeast France on July 8, 2023. He disappeared after he walked away from his grandparents’ summer house where he had just arrived to stay for the holidays.
Background
In 2023, Emile was living with his mother, Marie and Colomban Soleil, in La Bouilladisse, a municipality south of Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France.
Disappearance
On July 8, 2023, Emile Soleil was last seen in Haut Vernet, a remote hamlet of 25 residents, about 2 km from Le Vernet, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence near the mountain range of Massif des Trois-Évêchés.
That morning, Emile’s mother dropped him off at his maternal grandparents’ summer house to stay for the holidays. Eight of his young aunts and uncles, ages 7 to 18, were also present at the time for a family reunion.
Around 5:00 pm, Emile was last seen by his grandfather playing in the garden. Fifteen minutes later, Emile was spotted by two neighbors walking alone on the only street of the village, about 20 meters from his family summer house.
Emile Soleil never returned home. At 6:12 pm, his grandparents filed a missing person’s report with the Gendarmerie Nationale of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence when they couldn’t find him.
Investigation
Authorities conducted an extensive search of the area, including the 30 properties making up Le Vernet and 12 vehicles, with the help of drones, helicopters, and volunteers, but no signs of Emile were found.
His scent was picked up on two occasions by K-9 units in a radius of 20 meters around his grandparents’ house before it stopped, indicating that the boy might have gotten into a vehicle.
Remains of Missing French Toddler Found by Hiker
On March 30, 2024, skeletal remains including a skull and some teeth were discovered by a female hiker on a narrow forest path near a wooded area called Les Auches, which had previously been searched, about 1.7 kilometers from Le Vernet.
On March 31, 2024, authorities announced that the skeletal remains had been positively identified as belongings to Emile. Initial forensic analysis showed some small fractures and bites on the skull, seemingly of post-mortem animal origin.
On April 2, 2024, authorities recovered some of Emile’s clothes, including a t-shirt, shoes, and shorts, scattered over an area about 150 meters from where his skeletal remains were found.
Whereabouts
The circumstances of Emile Soleil’s disappearance remain unclear and the investigation into his death remains ongoing and active.
Appearance
Physical Description:
White male with blonde hair and brown eyes. Emile stands 3’0 tall.
Clothing and accessories:
Emile was last seen wearing a yellow t-shirt, white shorts with a green pattern and small hiking shoes.
News & Media Links
French police scramble to find missing toddler in remote Alpine village – CNN 07/23
Investigators identify remains of toddler who disappeared in French Alps in 2023 – France 24 03/24
Clothes of French toddler Emile Soleil found near remains in French Alps – BBC News 04/24
Remains of missing French toddler Émile Soleil found in French Alps – The Guardian 04/24
Did the neighbors think the toddler was on a casual evening stroll??!! Who wouldn’t pick the boy up and take them home?? What in the world!